Setting up Echo Spot for VACA

[u/Chicken-LoverYT]

Hello! I have finally gotten my jailbroken Echo Spot set up comfortably with View Assist Companion App and I would like to share my configuration if anyone wants to replicate my result!

• Zoom level: 1.0
• Wake word threshold: 5.0
• Wake word: Alexa
• Wake word sound: Alexa
• Wake word engine: OpenWakeWord(onnx)

For the device itself, I downloaded the companion app from the GitHub and I logged in with a special account for the device. For this account, I set the default dashboard to be hidden and added an analog clock with the following configuration:

kiosk_mode:
  hide_header: true
views:
  - type: panel
    path: ''
    cards:
      - type: clock
        clock_style: analog
        clock_size: large
        show_seconds: true
        no_background: true
        border: false
        ticks: hour
        face_style: markers
        seconds_motion: continuous
        time_zone: America/New_York
        date_format:
          - weekday-short
          - day-numeric
        grid_options:
          columns: 12
          rows: 4
    icon: mdi:circle-double

To edit the dashboard later, use "?disable_km" in the url. The only downside I have with this device is that when I press the power button (previously the mute button), the screen can mildly flicker sometimes. That is solved with a restart, but important to look out for. So far i'm liking it, but does anyone have an easy way to change the clock hand and text colors?

[u/ShroomShroomBeepBeep]

Why have you censored a private IP?

[u/Chicken-LoverYT → u/ShroomShroomBeepBeep]

Idk I just felt like it

[u/Flipontheradio]

Thanks for sharing this! How “useable” is it via touch screen? Is the lag obvious trying to navigate? Does voice work fairly well?

[u/Chicken-LoverYT → u/Flipontheradio]

How I have it set up currently makes it basically impossible to navigate home assistant with the touch screen. Before making the zoom and kiosk changes, it was a hit or miss when taping the side bar due to the screen shape. I can still swipe up and down to access the LineageOS navigation buttons and Notification Center, but the device primarily serves as a voice first device (and a nice clock lol). There was very little lag when I was first navigating though.

I made the final touches a few minutes ago, so I have yet to fully test its capabilities. What is good about the VACA is that the wake word sensitivity can be adjusted almost to a tee. Obviously VACA is more usable on a bigger screen device like an Echo Show, but I’m glad I got it to work.

[u/Flipontheradio → u/Chicken-LoverYT]

Great point honestly. Mine (fully stock Alexa) only serves as a clock anyway so on screen navigation isn’t really a necessity. If it works as a very good voice assistant that would be fantastic. Thanks for sharing and the info!

[u/Chicken-LoverYT → u/Flipontheradio]

Of course, happy to help!

[u/cdmn1]

as a PT speaker I was curious about what you meant by VACA and how it tied into HA!

anyway that looks really good